DETECTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-SEPTICUM HEMOLYSIN GENE BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the detection of t he hemolysin (alpha toxin) gene of Clostridium septicum. The PCR prime rs were designed from the sequence of the hemolysin gene and synthesiz ed. A DNA fragment of 270 bp was amplified from 10 strains of C. septi cum, but was not from strains of C. chauvoei, C. perfringens, C. novyi , or C. haemolyticum. When the PCR product was digested with Sau3AI, t wo DNA fragments of the expected 148 bp and 122 bp were recognized. Th e lowest detectable threshold of PCR for the hemolysin gene was 3.8 x 10(3) cells/ml. The PCR technique may be useful for rapid detection or identification of C, septicum associated with malignant edema.